Votes buying, intimidation allegations widely reported in kaduna re-run polls

Brazing allegations of votes buying and intimidation have been widely reported in most poling units during kaduna state federal constituency bye-election held Saturday.

Our Correspondent reported that the allegations of votes buying by agents suspected to be supporters of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and intimidation of voters by security operatives were reported in poling units in Ungwan Boro Duse units in Chikun LGA.

Political Party agents led by the main opposition’s Peoples Democratic party (PDP), in Sabon Tasha ward, Emmanuel Yakubu of Sabon exco ward confirmed this to our reporter at philolo 84 Ungwan Boro poling unit.

Mr. Yakubu, further alleged that APC supporters “are given voters cash between N5000 -N3000 behind the scene, and calling some others from home on phone to come and vote for their candidate with money awarded.

The PDP agent lamented that front and back, left, right and center, voters were been called by the side by APC supporters and given arms before casting their votes.

In some cases, he said “people are being called on phone even now as you can see them by my side by those who knows them and treated before casting votes under the glare views of security operatives, pointing at some directions where the incidents were taking place.

Both Boro Primary school, philolo Duse and foresight school poling units voting centers, the situations are the same, as cash carriers were sighted with some party supporters sharing to potential voters by the side.

Why party agents in some poling units complaints betterly against the APC votes buying, there were no complaints against other political party by APC agents so far, even as agents in foresight school polling unit said everything was normal and peaceful.

Our Correspondent who Monitor the exercise reported that voting reportedly commenced around 9am -10am Saturday in most poling stations visited under Sabon Tasha ward, it was however not with issues and low turnout witnessed.

In Ungwan Boro primary school, hosting unit C 30 and C 31, a black tinted jeep with sealed plate number, suspected to be vote buyer was sighted with full police escort, with APC tag beater carrying cash out of the vehicle to a gathering of voters at the back of primary school near entrance gate.

With heavy vehicles in convoy, many described them as APC coordinator who stormed the voting center around 11am, as bundle of money was sighted in the hand of a man who bailout of the car to a corner behind the primary school building block, by roadside.

In some polling centres, most voters were seated with for party to buy their votes, while only few were gueing on line for vote casting, as some voters insisted that until their votes are bought they’ll not cast their votes.

“I’ll rather take it home without voting”, an electorate told our reporter, when asked if he has no any preferred candidate in mind to vote for.

Our Correspondent also reported that as at 2:40 pm, foresight school poling unit Ungwan Boro, with 500 registered voters had only about 50 accredited voters.